Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yun Jin glanced at the information displayed before her.

[Name: Gu Jinghong.

Dual Spiritual Roots – Water and Earth.

Early-stage Nascent Soul.

Spirit Beast: Mudbug Beast (Earth Element, Mid-Grade, Foundation Establishment stage)

Cultivation Technique: Blood Qi Manual (High-tier Mystic Rank. Rapid advancement, but induces growing bloodlust and mental distortion with deeper cultivation)

Mastered Skills: Level 6 Eight Trigram Palm (Low-tier Profound Rank), Level 6 Eight Trigram Step (Low-tier Profound Rank)

Array Mastery: Proficient in Level 2 formations. Basic control of Level 3 formations.]

Yun Jin couldn't help but feel disdainful.

"That's it? Gu Jinghong's skills are a bit lacking, aren't they?"

At this point, her own skill list was probably longer than his. If Gu Jinghong knew what Yun Jin was thinking, he'd be utterly aggrieved.

It was often said that greed led to indigestion. Though cultivators had long lifespans, cultivation itself was an arduous journey. For him to reach proficiency in formations while advancing his cultivation was already commendable.

Yun Jin continued her internal critique.

And this guy actually has a spirit beast? After raising it for so long, it's still only at the Foundation Establishment Stage?

Her Gun Gun could reach Foundation Establishment in no time!

Useless.

This Gu Jinghong was truly useless.

If not for her desire to torment him, having such a servant would only lower her standards. But since he was the only one available, she'd have to make do.

~

While Yun Jin was tallying her gains, many others spent a sleepless night.

Ming Heng immediately reported Yun Jin's feat—modifying a Foundation Establishment pill recipe and successfully refining a perfect-quality Foundation Establishment Pill—to his sect.

At the same time, many who had witnessed this miracle also relayed the news to their higher-ups.

~

Inside a hidden chamber of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion…

Chen Changrong and Yue Zhao sat across from each other, sipping tea.

"Brother Ren, it's fortunate your junior sister left quickly. Right now, the entire city is searching for her," Chen Changrong remarked with a sigh.

Yue Zhao smiled faintly. "My junior sister is wholly dedicated to alchemy. Mundane affairs like these have never concerned her."

"Oh?" Chen Changrong was surprised. "Is your junior sister actually quite diligent in private?"

Yue Zhao sighed, forcing himself to lie. "There's a saying—'If something appears effortless, it's only because immense effort was poured into it behind the scenes.' Nothing in this world comes without hard work. The effort my junior sister puts in privately… even I can't bear to watch."

Yes, he really couldn't bear to watch—because Yun Jin barely put in any effort at all!

Chen Changrong nodded repeatedly. "So that's how it is! It seems even geniuses don't have it easy."

Yue Zhao maintained a calm expression.

Chen Changrong's eyes flickered as he probed further. "Brother Ren, the matter of the perfect-quality Foundation Establishment Pill is of great importance. This marketplace is about to become very lively. Many will want to uncover your identities."

This "Ren Woxing" was clearly disguising his appearance.

But in the cultivation world, disguising one's appearance was commonplace. Forcibly uncovering it would be seen as a provocation, possibly leading to conflict.

Chen Changrong sought a long-term partnership with Yue Zhao and wouldn't risk such a move. However, those drawn here by the Foundation Establishment Pill might not be so restrained. To uncover the true identities of Yue Zhao and Yun Jin, some would stop at nothing. After all, whoever found them first would gain the upper hand. If they could recruit such a genius, just the ability to refine perfect-quality Foundation Establishment Pills would significantly bolster their sect's foundational strength.

"They want to investigate?" Yue Zhao sneered. "Let them try."

His arrogance was so palpable that Chen Changrong was briefly stunned.

He asked cautiously, "Brother Ren, is it possible your background… isn't so simple after all?"

Yue Zhao smiled faintly. "Could an ordinary family produce a prodigy like my junior sister?"

The logic was irrefutable. Chen Changrong couldn't help but believe him.

"Pavilion Master Chen must have looked into me. I began frequenting this marketplace three years ago. That's only because my junior sister and I were traveling, and we happened to pass through. Before that, she was in seclusion, wholly devoted to studying alchemy. With nothing better to do, I came to the marketplace to pass the time and earn some spare change." Yue Zhao spoke as if it were nothing.

Chen Changrong's heart trembled.

He had looked into Ren Woxing's history. It was true—he had only become active in the marketplace three years ago.

What's more, many merchants spoke highly of him. They all said that if he had any backing or capital, he would have already made a name for himself in the business world.

But thinking it over…

How could someone with such business sense not have a background? How could he have no resources? Commercial instinct doesn't just emerge from thin air. It had to be cultivated.

Before, Chen Changrong had been puzzled.

Now, everything made sense.

Ren Woxing was only passing time here. He had never intended to throw himself into business. It was just a hobby. He and that mysterious pill-refining girl must hail from an elite sect. Perhaps even a super sect… or a Holy Land?

At the thought of that possibility, Chen Changrong shuddered. If that were true, had his earlier treatment of Ren Woxing been… disrespectful?

Seeing Chen Changrong's face pale, Yue Zhao had no idea what wild assumptions he was making. He simply sipped his tea, his expression growing ever more inscrutable.

"Brother Ren," Chen Changrong wiped sweat from his brow, "many will come to me for information about you. How should I respond?"

Yue Zhao lowered his voice. "Pavilion Master Chen, let me ask you this—do you want the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to monopolize this pill trade, or do you want to share it with others?"

Chen Changrong's expression shifted. "Brother Ren, you mean…"

"We signed an agreement giving the Hundred Herbs Pavilion priority in pill supply. My junior sister and I intend to honor it. But if others come pressuring you, and your pavilion can't withstand it… then even if we wish to fulfill the agreement, we won't be able to."

Chen Changrong nodded repeatedly.

With the Biling Pills, he could still suppress those covetous eyes.

But the Foundation Establishment Pills…

Their impact was too great.

"Pavilion Master Chen," Yue Zhao said slowly, "you alone can no longer handle this. Bring in someone higher."

"Let me be clear—my junior sister and I aren't worried about our identities being exposed. At worst, we'll leave. No one would dare move against us. But if that happens, our pill business ends. If you still want this trade, the Hundred Herbs Pavilion must find a way. The pressure is on you now—not us. Do you understand?"

Yue Zhao's piercing gaze bore into Chen Changrong, his presence exuding the authority of a superior.

Chen Changrong shuddered.

Now, he dared not question anything further.

This aura… Who would believe he hadn't commanded thousands before?

A sect with thousands of disciples had to be, at the very least, a high-tier sect!

Though Ren Woxing's cultivation wasn't exceptionally high, his ability to lead so many suggested an extremely high status within his sect!

"I understand," Chen Changrong said quickly. "I've already reported this matter. Now, I'll escalate it further—I'll request the headquarters send stronger reinforcements."

Only then did Yue Zhao nod in satisfaction. "Pavilion Master Chen, let us hope for… a pleasant collaboration."

As Yue Zhao withdrew his oppressive aura, Chen Changrong discreetly wiped his sweat again.

"A mere Nascent Soul cultivator, yet with such terrifying presence…"

"This Ren Woxing was no ordinary man."

"And that junior sister of his… was even more extraordinary."

"This matter required careful handling."